Improvement in apparatus for saving float-gold



No.--2-`08',535. Patented Oct. 1, 1878.

B i V/// W i v e, s e S lnven mr N.FETERS. PHOTO-LITHDGRAPHEL wAsHNGToL D c UNITED STATES' PATENT OFFICE.

J ULIUS J. MTLLER, OF SAN FRANCISCO, UALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR SAVING FLOAT-GOLD.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 208,535, dated October 1, 1878; application filed August 9, 1878.

To all 'whom it may coaccm:

Be it known that I, J ULIUs JAMES MLLER, of the city and county of San Francisco, and State of California, have invented an Improved Apparatus for Saving Float-Gold; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the aceompanying drawings.

My invention'relates to an improved appa ratus for savingthe fine particles of gold which are found in suspension in the water from gravel or placer mines or quartz mills. It consists in placing ona frame in a tank a series of blankets so arranged as to fill the upper portion of the tank, and leading the water containing the float-gold into the tank under the blankets, so it rises through the blankets, which allow the water to pass but catch the gold. Suitable devices are employed to retain the blankets in position firmly.

The supply-trough, into which the water is led, is connected with the tank by telescopic pipes, which admit of it being raised or lowered to regulate the pressure or head without having to connect or disconnect said pipes.

The drawing shows a section of my apparatus.

Let A represent a tank or receptacle, made in any desired form, and having a cover, B, by which it may be entirely closed, except as hereinafter described. At the rear of this tank are placed a series of pipes, C, which extend upward, as shown, and the lower ends of which enter the tank at a suitable distance above the bottom. At the rear end and above the tank is a trough, D, having, passing through its bottom, a series of pipes, E, corresponding in number to those in the tank. The pipes E fit inside of the pipes G, so that the two sets telescope, in order that the trough, with its pipes, may be raised or lowered without severin g the continuity of the connection between the trough and tank. This is necessary in order that the head of water may be varied at will, so that the pressure on the blankets inside the tank may be regulated for the purpose lereinafter described. The water flows into the trough D through a sluice, F, from the place where the ore or gravel is worked. Inside of the tank is placed a frame composcd of the sides G and rods or bars H, which extend about half-way down into the tank, and rests on lu gs or supports provided for it. The pipes O enter the tank under the lower edge of this frame, so that the water may rise upward in the tank.

Across the rods or bars H is stretched a blanket, I, which passes continuously over a bar on one side, under the same bar, and over the one opposite, as shown, so as to form a continuous piece extending the depth of the frame. Across between the bars, or woven in With the blanket itself, are stretched Wires J, which prevent the blankets bulging up or stretchin g out of place by the pressure of water underneath. The water passing up through the blankets passes out over the front edge of the tank through the opening S. Handles L are attached to the frame, so that it may be lifted out of the tank when it is desired to clean up the blankets or tank. A plug, M, in the tank may be removed when the tank needs cleaning.

The operation of my device is as follows: The water containing fine particles of gold in suspension from h ydraulic Washin gs or quartzmills is led into the trough, the height of which above the tank is regulated to suit the required head or pressure, as described. The water passes down through the pipes into the tank under the blankets. Iu order to escape from the tank it must rise through the blankets, which catch in the passage all the fioatgold Suspended in the water. The blankets are held in place by the bars and Wires; but the whole frame carrying the blankets may be removed by means of the handles. A separate box is provided, and is filled with water, for the purpose of cleansing the blankets. The frame may then be dipped up and down edgewise in the tank of water, so that the gold on the blankets may be washed into the box. The frane may then be reversed and again (lipped edgewise, so that both sides of the blankets are washed and the gold received in the box, wlence it may be removed when desired.

It is well known to niners that large quantities of gold in a finely-disseninated condition escape with the water used in working the ore or gravel. This is termed technically float-gold, and will often remain in suspen.

sio when the carthy matters carried by the water have preeipitated themselves. The phenoinenon is eonnnouly att'ibuted to the fact that the partieles of gold either have globules of air adhering to theni or are covered with a greasy substance, which eauses them to fioat, or else that the seales are so minute and flakey as to be of comparatively small specifie gravity, so that the agitation of the water in notion keeps them iu a state of suspension. \\'hatever the cause, the t'aet exists that large quantities ot' gold are lost to the iners by being earried off froni the hydraulic-inines or quartz-inills in the water used to work the ore or gravel. Various devices have been in' Vented for preventing this loss, nost of them, lowever, having failed in atteinpting to bring the float-gold in contact with inercu'y, which it has been found praetically impossible to do. Again, any agitation of the water prevents the gold froni settling, and in bringing the floatgold in contact with mercury in any method yet devised an agitation ot' the water has been necessary.

With the deviee hei-ein described, the water, being elosely contined and having to rise up through the blankets to escape, is quieted, as it were, and the blaukets eft'ectually resist the passage of even the finest partieles ot'gold. The water is not led into the deviee until it is conparatively l''ee froni nud or dirt, so that a small quantity only of debris will be found in the tak, which can be easily removed when desircd. The peeuliar formatio ot' blankets has been found extremely advantageous in catching gold, the tine hairs` catching in the ragged edges of the particles and detaining theni. The iuterstices in the blankets, while adnitting of the passage of water, prevent the gold froni passing. and it is accordingly caught and saved.

This device is simple in Construction and operation, requiring only oecasional attention when cleaning up. The cover being Secured, it cannot easily be reached except by those in charge, and the operation is continnons. The waste-water from sluiees, flumes, or nills nay be led through it, and a great saving oi' gold which would otherwise be lost can be effected. Whenever a sufficient amount of gold has aceumulated upon the lower surface of the blanket it will either fall to the bottom of the tank, or, in case ot' the upper portions of the blanket, to the next below, from which it can be removed when a suflicient quantity has accunulatcd.

The object of the apparatus is to pass large quantities ot' water which carry but a limited quantity of sedinent and some float gold through the blankets, tlereby effecting such a eoncentrationof the naterial and fine gold that the latter may be easily separated and saved.

Having thns described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The tank A, combined With its blanketfrane II, having the eontinuous blanket I passing back and forward within the frame, substantiall y as lercin described.

:2. The tank A, with its contained blanketsurfaces, as shown, and discharge-sluce S, in eonibination with the telescopic supply-pipes C E and elevated sluice T, said supply-pipes being eapable of extension to regulate the head, substantially as herein described.

In witness whercof I hereunto set my hand.

J ULIITS J. M LLElt.

\\'ituesses:

FRANK A. BnooKs, GEO. ll. STRoNn. 

